TAXATION OF LESSEES OR USERS OF TAX-EXEMPT PROPERTY
Act 189 of 1953
AN ACT to provide for the taxation of lessees and users of tax-exempt property.
History: 1953, Act 189, Imd. Eff. June 10, 1953
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
211.181 Taxation of lessees or users of tax-exempt real property; business conducted for profit; exceptions.Sec. 1.
(1) Except as provided in this section, if real property exempt for any reason from ad valorem property taxation is leased, loaned, or otherwise made available to and used by a private individual, association, or corporation in connection with a business conducted for profit, the lessee or user of the real property is subject to taxation in the same amount and to the same extent as though the lessee or user owned the real property.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:
(a) Federal property for which payments are made instead of ad valorem property taxes in amounts equivalent to taxes that might otherwise be lawfully assessed or property of a state-supported educational institution, enumerated in section 4 of article VIII of the state constitution of 1963.
(b) Property that is used as a concession at a public airport, park, market, or similar property and that is available for use by the general public.
(c) Property that is used by the lessee or user only in conjunction with a county fair, community fair, 4-H fair, or state fair of this state, or in conjunction with a special event for which the lessee or user pays a fee to the county fair, community fair, 4-H fair, or state fair. As used in this subdivision, "special event" means an event during which property is occupied by the lessee or user for not more than 14 consecutive days.
(d) For tax days before December 31, 1985, property that is used by the lessee or user in such a manner that the city or township in which the property is located receives revenue under section 17 of the horse racing law of 1995, 1995 PA 279, MCL 431.317.
(e) Real property located in a renaissance zone, except a casino, to the extent and for the duration provided in the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to 125.2696, except a special assessment or a tax described in section 7ff(2) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7ff. As used in this subdivision, "casino" means a casino or a parking lot, hotel, motel, or retail store owned or operated by a casino, an affiliate, or an affiliated company, regulated by this state pursuant to the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, 1996 IL 1, MCL 432.201 to 432.226.
(f) Property that qualifies as a public bridge facility that is used by a concessionaire pursuant to a public-private agreement entered into with a city under section 5k of the home rule city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.5k. As used in this subdivision, "concessionaire", "public bridge facility", and "public-private agreement" mean those terms as defined in section 5k of the home rule city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.5k.
History: 1953, Act 189, Imd. Eff. June 10, 1953
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Am. 1962, Act 226, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963
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Am. 1970, Act 174, Imd. Eff. Aug. 3, 1970
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Am. 1976, Act 430, Imd. Eff. Jan. 11, 1977
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Am. 1982, Act 241, Imd. Eff. Sept. 23, 1982
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Am. 1984, Act 63, Imd. Eff. Apr. 12, 1984
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Am. 1984, Act 305, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 1984
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Am. 1996, Act 447, Imd. Eff. Dec. 19, 1996
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Am. 1998, Act 244, Imd. Eff. July 3, 1998
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Am. 2020, Act 356, Eff. Mar. 24, 2021
211.181a Real and personal property of qualified start-up business; exemption from tax; "qualified start-up business" defined.Sec. 1a.
(1) Notwithstanding the tax day provided in section 2 of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.2, and except as limited in subsection (5) and otherwise provided in subsection (7), for taxes levied after December 31, 2004, real and personal property of a qualified start-up business is exempt from taxes levied under this act for each tax year in which all of the following occur:
(a) The qualified start-up business applies for the exemption as provided in subsection (2) or (3).
(b) The governing body of the local tax collecting unit adopts a resolution approving the exemption as provided in subsection (4).
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), a qualified start-up business may claim the exemption under this section by filing an affidavit on or before May 1 in each tax year with the assessor of the local tax collecting unit. The affidavit shall be in a form prescribed by the state tax commission. The affidavit shall state that the qualified start-up business was eligible for and claimed the qualified start-up business credit under section 31a of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.31a, or section 415 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1415, for the applicant's last tax year ending before May 1. The affidavit shall include all of the following:
(a) A copy of the qualified start-up business's annual return filed under the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.1 to 208.145, or the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1101 to 208.1601, in which the qualified start-up business claimed the qualified start-up business credit under section 31a of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.31a, or section 415 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1415.
(b) A statement authorizing the department of treasury to release information contained in the qualified start-up business's annual return filed under the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.1 to 208.145, or the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1101 to 208.1601, that pertains to the qualified start-up business credit claimed under section 31a of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.31a, or section 415 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1415.
(3) If a qualified start-up business applies for an extension for filing its annual single business tax return under section 73 of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.73, or section 505 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1505, the qualified start-up business may claim the exemption under this section after May 1 if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The governing body of the local tax collecting unit adopts a resolution under subsection (4)(b) approving the exemption for all qualified start-up businesses that apply for an extension for filing the annual single business tax return under section 73 of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.73, or section 505 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1505.
(b) The qualified start-up business submits a copy of its application for an extension for filing its annual single business tax return under section 73 of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.73, or section 505 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1505, and the affidavit described in subsection (2) to the December board of review provided in section 53b of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.53b. For purposes of section 53b of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.53b, an exemption granted under this subsection shall be considered the correction of a clerical error.
(4) On or before its last meeting in May in each tax year, the governing body of a local tax collecting unit may adopt a resolution approving the exemption provided in this section. The clerk of the local tax collecting unit shall notify in writing the assessor of the local tax collecting unit and the legislative body of each taxing unit that levies ad valorem property taxes in the local tax collecting unit. Before acting on the resolution, the governing body of the local tax collecting unit shall afford the assessor and a representative of the affected taxing units an opportunity for a hearing. A resolution approving the exemption provided in this section may be for 1 or both of the following:
(a) One or more of the individual qualified start-up businesses that claim the exemption under this section by filing an affidavit on or before May 1 as provided in subsection (2).
(b) All qualified start-up businesses that claim the exemption under this section after May 1 as provided in subsection (3).
(5) A qualified start-up business shall not receive the exemption under this section for more than a total of 5 tax years. A qualified start-up business may receive the exemption under this section in nonconsecutive tax years.
(6) If an exemption under this section is erroneously granted, the tax rolls shall be corrected for the current tax year and the 3 immediately preceding tax years. The property that had been subject to that exemption shall be immediately placed on the tax roll by the local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or by the county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax roll as though the exemption had not been granted. A corrected tax bill shall be issued for the tax year being adjusted by the local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or by the county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax roll. If an owner pays the corrected tax bill issued under this subsection within 60 days after the corrected tax bill is issued, that owner is not liable for any penalty or interest on the additional tax. If an owner pays a corrected tax bill issued under this subsection more than 60 days after the corrected tax bill is issued, the owner is liable for the penalties and interest that would have accrued if the exemption had not been granted from the date the taxes were originally levied.
(7) Real and personal property of a qualified start-up business is not exempt from collection of the following:
(a) A special assessment levied by the local tax collecting unit in which the property is located.
(b) Ad valorem property taxes specifically levied for the payment of principal and interest of obligations approved by the electors or obligations pledging the unlimited taxing power of the local governmental unit.
(c) A tax levied under section 705 or 1212 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.705 and 380.1212.
(8) As used in this section, "qualified start-up business" means that term as defined in section 31a of the single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, MCL 208.31a, or section 415 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1415.
History: Add. 2004, Act 324, Imd. Eff. Aug. 27, 2004
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Am. 2007, Act 192, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 2007
211.182 Assessment and collection; delinquent taxes.Sec. 2.
(1) Taxes levied under this act shall be assessed to the lessees or users of real property and shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as taxes collected under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to 211.157.
(2) Taxes levied under this act shall not become a lien against the property.
(3) When due, taxes levied under this act shall constitute a debt due from the lessee or user to the township, city, village, county, and school district for which the taxes were assessed.
(4) Delinquent taxes levied under this act shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as taxes levied on personal property are collected under sections 46 and 47(2) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.46 and 211.47.
History: 1953, Act 189, Imd. Eff. June 10, 1953
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Am. 2004, Act 573, Imd. Eff. Jan. 3, 2005
Rendered 8/15/2025 8:51 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov